A ninth person has tested positive for Covid-19 in the capital, raising the total number of cases from the country to 29.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced this at around 1:15am on Saturday, adding that the individual is being transferred to an isolation facility.

RaajjeMV understands that Kosheege in the Mahchangoalhi ward of the city has been quarantined, as Patient 29 resides there.

This is a direct contact of Patient 27, one of the people that tested positive after presenting to the flu clinic in Malé City with Covid-19 like symptoms on Friday.

While authorities on Friday announced that a second person (Patient 28) had also tested positive upon presenting to the flu clinic, this case has no connection to the other or to any of the previously confirmed cases, thus confirming at least three clusters in the city.

The first possible sign of a community transmission was discovered on Wednesday, after a woman with no travel history tested positive upon presenting to the flu clinic. Over 200 contacts of this Patient 21 is being tested, and two direct contacts tested positive as well, including her child; a toddler (Patient 22). Three directs contact of her other contact (Patient 23) have also tested positive.

A 24-hour lockdown was imposed shortly after the confirmation of the first case from the city, and this was extended by 14 days on Friday.